5 ms·

It was my understanding that while Google has nap rooms in some offices, they are seldom used. The culture is geared around long hours and if you are seen to be

by spuz 13y ago

It was my understanding that while Google has nap rooms in some offices, they are seldom used. The culture is geared around long hours and if you are seen to be napping that is seen as a potential sign of weakness. Of course I could be completely wrong (I'm just pulling this idea out of a vague memory of reading about it here on HN) so I hope a Google employee will correct me. However, it seems reasonable that a company would need to do more than just offer the opportunity to take breaks, work from home and work sensible hours. The culture of seeing hard workers as more valuable must be a difficult one to break.

erre 13y ago
I'm not a Google employee, but I once visited their Zürich office and was shown the nap room. Not only was it really cool, but there were several people using it (just after lunch).
- GFischer 13y ago
  That would be a great perk :) . I'd definitely be more productive and be able to work longer hours if I was able to take a nap (not that I want to work longer hours :) ).
- abrichr 13y ago
  There's definitely a significant difference in attitudes towards sleep and work between Europe and the US. Perhaps someone who has experience working in both can comment.
  - erre 13y ago
    Ah, yes, good point. Also, FWIW, this was about 3 years ago.
  - switch007 13y ago
    The attitudes vary wildly within Europe, too. It's a big place.
  - oscardelben 13y ago
    I worked in both, and while I see more people taking naps here in London, they definitely take naps in MTV too!
  - Dewie 13y ago
    > There's definitely a significant difference in attitudes towards sleep and work between Europe and the US. Or just between Switzerland and the US.
- atmosx 13y ago
  The need for a nap after food is heavily correlated with the quantity and quality of food you're going to eat. Eat light and you won't feel the need for a nap, otherwise it's hard to avoid. If you treat your digestive system like a dustbin, of course you'll need higher amounts of insulin excretion (also called spike) to digest, higher blood pressure (heavier heart work-load) and all these nice staff which lead to hyper/hypotension disorders and finally to strokes. That said, I'm sure that if you wake up at 5-6 a.m. a nap around 13:00-14:00 will work for you, but the most important - imho, not sure what studies says, just personal experience - is getting a good night sleep, not a nap the day after. There's nothing like a good night sleep and there are many factors that determine the night sleep. To mention just a few: * Food: eating a light healthy meal at least two hours before going to bed is the optimal situation. * Room temperature: Must be optimal for blanket usage * Oxygen: Oxygenated room possibly, open the windows a little before going to sleep. Oh and no vegetables sucking oxygen inside the room is better. * Sound: Trying to keep the bedroom as quiet as possible from external rumors, except maybe if you are living in nature. Natural rumors (birds, grasshoppers, etc) are likely to increase the quality of your sleep but surely nothing digital will. Even if some people believe that TV helps them getting a sleep, they rarely get a quality sleep. * Relax: A book is at least 10 times better suited than a movie before going to sleep. Relaxes the mind while a movie is like a sort of bombardment, keeping adrenaline flow, when it shouldn't. And many others :-)
  - likeclockwork 13y ago
    I really love that you referred to 'sounds' as 'rumors'. Birds spreading natural rumors really make me smile.
nicolethenerd 13y ago
I interned at Google's Mountain View HQ in 2009 - I don't remember there being an actual nap room, they just had a few nap pods (like this http://www.hammacher.com/Product/12199 http://www.hammacher.com/Product/12199) scattered around the office.
- erbdex 13y ago
  :) Doesn't look comfortable.
- programminggeek 13y ago
  Wow, um, I think a simple cot would suffice and would be about $15,950 cheaper... http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000009891-ComfortSmart-Folding-Cot/dp/B0075D2J2C/ http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000009891-ComfortSmart-Foldin...
  - yetanotherphd 13y ago
    plus there is something about lying completely flat that is especially conducive to sleep, at least for me. I slept better in an overnight bus in China packed with bunk beds, than in most airplanes.
snewman 13y ago
Culture is what you make it. I'm a big believer in power naps, and I used to work at Google. This was a while ago and there were no nap rooms in my building, so I just lay down on a couch and zonked for twenty minutes every afternoon. This was in a hallway with dozens of people going by. Never any problem. (Of course, this only worked because I didn't mind the noise, but with more effort I could have found a quieter location.) Obviously, there are plenty of more traditional workplaces where this wouldn't fly. But at most tech companies, the problem is not that you wouldn't be allowed to nap, it's people not realizing the value or feeling too silly about it.
- giardini 13y ago
  Earplugs really help. And a simple scarf that you can place over your eyes to block out light.
wcarss 13y ago
I got the feeling that it depended on your social status within the team. If you were seen to be a producer and got shit done, then sure whatever, take a nap -- just keep it up. And pretty much everyone I met was someone who got shit done, but a lot of people who get shit done won't let themselves take a nap at work. Even if it's good for them. Some people still took naps, and I get the sense that the others felt napping would be a violation of a personal code, rather than something consciously felt as a cultural pressure.
- adamb_ 13y ago
  Perhaps the naps empowered their get-shit-done mindset, which in turn allowed to be seen as a "producer"
  - MartinCron 13y ago
    Or it could be a very grand gesture of confidence in their status.
3pt14159 13y ago
I visited the Montreal office recently and I must say that they don't seem overworked at all. Some were excited about their work, some were relaxed. If they are pulling long hours is probably isn't because of some weird ego war - it would be because they seem genuinely interested in their work.
deleted 13y ago
[deleted]
zem 13y ago
google mountain view employee here - there is no stigma that i am aware of surrounding the nap pods; people just get caught up in the "so much to do, so little time to do it" cycle and don't want to leave their desks to go nap. i've even seen a surprising number of coworkers eating at their desks, something i can guarantee you there is no cultural expectation of within the company - again, it's just a case of individuals feeling the real or perceived pressure of work piling up too fast for them to step away.
yetanotherphd 13y ago
I work at Google, as far as I know no one uses these. I never have, although I considered using one when I didn't have any accommodation for the night (I ended up staying with a friend). That said, people do not work long hours. Only very few people consistently working more than 45 hours a week. Napping is not going to reduce your workload, it's just a lifestyle choice that most people choose not to make. Similarly, people take breaks either to socialize with other employees, or because they can't handle working solidly for 3-4 hours.
mark_l_watson 13y ago
I work as a contractor at Google MTV. My building has a very large lounge area and I sometimes see people taking naps on the couches. I work from 6:30am to 4pm (beat the traffic!) and I use this room not for naps, but to go read for 10 minutes or so to unwind. Long walks also help me stay fresh. In any case, I have always believed that frequent breaks are important. A bit off topic, but when I work at home (which I have mostly done for the last 15 years) then I almost always take a 20 minute nap after lunch.
dpifke 13y ago
I work at Google (in Mountain View) and all of the buildings I've worked in here have "nap pods" scattered around. They look kinda like dentist chairs, with a egg-shaped cone that comes down over your head and torso to shield you from noise and distraction. See: http://www.geek.com/news/google-uses-high-tech-nap-pods-to-keep-employees-energized-1264430/ http://www.geek.com/news/google-uses-high-tech-nap-pods-to-k... The pods can be reserved on a public calendar, same as conference rooms. The ones in my previous building were booked pretty solid every day from 11am-3pm. I tried one out once but didn't find it particular comfortable or conducive to sleep. But some folks swear by them.

by spuz 13y ago

erre 13y ago

I'm not a Google employee, but I once visited their Zürich office and was shown the nap room. Not only was it really cool, but there were several people using it (just after lunch).

GFischer 13y ago
That would be a great perk :) . I'd definitely be more productive and be able to work longer hours if I was able to take a nap (not that I want to work longer hours :) ).
abrichr 13y ago
There's definitely a significant difference in attitudes towards sleep and work between Europe and the US. Perhaps someone who has experience working in both can comment.
- erre 13y ago
  Ah, yes, good point. Also, FWIW, this was about 3 years ago.
- switch007 13y ago
  The attitudes vary wildly within Europe, too. It's a big place.
- oscardelben 13y ago
  I worked in both, and while I see more people taking naps here in London, they definitely take naps in MTV too!
- Dewie 13y ago
  > There's definitely a significant difference in attitudes towards sleep and work between Europe and the US. Or just between Switzerland and the US.
atmosx 13y ago
The need for a nap after food is heavily correlated with the quantity and quality of food you're going to eat. Eat light and you won't feel the need for a nap, otherwise it's hard to avoid. If you treat your digestive system like a dustbin, of course you'll need higher amounts of insulin excretion (also called spike) to digest, higher blood pressure (heavier heart work-load) and all these nice staff which lead to hyper/hypotension disorders and finally to strokes. That said, I'm sure that if you wake up at 5-6 a.m. a nap around 13:00-14:00 will work for you, but the most important - imho, not sure what studies says, just personal experience - is getting a good night sleep, not a nap the day after. There's nothing like a good night sleep and there are many factors that determine the night sleep. To mention just a few: * Food: eating a light healthy meal at least two hours before going to bed is the optimal situation. * Room temperature: Must be optimal for blanket usage * Oxygen: Oxygenated room possibly, open the windows a little before going to sleep. Oh and no vegetables sucking oxygen inside the room is better. * Sound: Trying to keep the bedroom as quiet as possible from external rumors, except maybe if you are living in nature. Natural rumors (birds, grasshoppers, etc) are likely to increase the quality of your sleep but surely nothing digital will. Even if some people believe that TV helps them getting a sleep, they rarely get a quality sleep. * Relax: A book is at least 10 times better suited than a movie before going to sleep. Relaxes the mind while a movie is like a sort of bombardment, keeping adrenaline flow, when it shouldn't. And many others :-)
- likeclockwork 13y ago
  I really love that you referred to 'sounds' as 'rumors'. Birds spreading natural rumors really make me smile.

nicolethenerd 13y ago

I interned at Google's Mountain View HQ in 2009 - I don't remember there being an actual nap room, they just had a few nap pods (like this http://www.hammacher.com/Product/12199 http://www.hammacher.com/Product/12199) scattered around the office.

erbdex 13y ago
:) Doesn't look comfortable.
programminggeek 13y ago
Wow, um, I think a simple cot would suffice and would be about $15,950 cheaper... http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000009891-ComfortSmart-Folding-Cot/dp/B0075D2J2C/ http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-2000009891-ComfortSmart-Foldin...
- yetanotherphd 13y ago
  plus there is something about lying completely flat that is especially conducive to sleep, at least for me. I slept better in an overnight bus in China packed with bunk beds, than in most airplanes.

snewman 13y ago

Culture is what you make it. I'm a big believer in power naps, and I used to work at Google. This was a while ago and there were no nap rooms in my building, so I just lay down on a couch and zonked for twenty minutes every afternoon. This was in a hallway with dozens of people going by. Never any problem. (Of course, this only worked because I didn't mind the noise, but with more effort I could have found a quieter location.) Obviously, there are plenty of more traditional workplaces where this wouldn't fly. But at most tech companies, the problem is not that you wouldn't be allowed to nap, it's people not realizing the value or feeling too silly about it.

giardini 13y ago
Earplugs really help. And a simple scarf that you can place over your eyes to block out light.

wcarss 13y ago

I got the feeling that it depended on your social status within the team. If you were seen to be a producer and got shit done, then sure whatever, take a nap -- just keep it up. And pretty much everyone I met was someone who got shit done, but a lot of people who get shit done won't let themselves take a nap at work. Even if it's good for them. Some people still took naps, and I get the sense that the others felt napping would be a violation of a personal code, rather than something consciously felt as a cultural pressure.

adamb_ 13y ago
Perhaps the naps empowered their get-shit-done mindset, which in turn allowed to be seen as a "producer"
- MartinCron 13y ago
  Or it could be a very grand gesture of confidence in their status.

3pt14159 13y ago

I visited the Montreal office recently and I must say that they don't seem overworked at all. Some were excited about their work, some were relaxed. If they are pulling long hours is probably isn't because of some weird ego war - it would be because they seem genuinely interested in their work.

deleted 13y ago

[deleted]

zem 13y ago

google mountain view employee here - there is no stigma that i am aware of surrounding the nap pods; people just get caught up in the "so much to do, so little time to do it" cycle and don't want to leave their desks to go nap. i've even seen a surprising number of coworkers eating at their desks, something i can guarantee you there is no cultural expectation of within the company - again, it's just a case of individuals feeling the real or perceived pressure of work piling up too fast for them to step away.

yetanotherphd 13y ago

I work at Google, as far as I know no one uses these. I never have, although I considered using one when I didn't have any accommodation for the night (I ended up staying with a friend). That said, people do not work long hours. Only very few people consistently working more than 45 hours a week. Napping is not going to reduce your workload, it's just a lifestyle choice that most people choose not to make. Similarly, people take breaks either to socialize with other employees, or because they can't handle working solidly for 3-4 hours.

mark_l_watson 13y ago

I work as a contractor at Google MTV. My building has a very large lounge area and I sometimes see people taking naps on the couches. I work from 6:30am to 4pm (beat the traffic!) and I use this room not for naps, but to go read for 10 minutes or so to unwind. Long walks also help me stay fresh. In any case, I have always believed that frequent breaks are important. A bit off topic, but when I work at home (which I have mostly done for the last 15 years) then I almost always take a 20 minute nap after lunch.

dpifke 13y ago

I work at Google (in Mountain View) and all of the buildings I've worked in here have "nap pods" scattered around. They look kinda like dentist chairs, with a egg-shaped cone that comes down over your head and torso to shield you from noise and distraction. See: http://www.geek.com/news/google-uses-high-tech-nap-pods-to-keep-employees-energized-1264430/ http://www.geek.com/news/google-uses-high-tech-nap-pods-to-k... The pods can be reserved on a public calendar, same as conference rooms. The ones in my previous building were booked pretty solid every day from 11am-3pm. I tried one out once but didn't find it particular comfortable or conducive to sleep. But some folks swear by them.